Where beer geeks get offended. Welcome to the world of beer as viewed by the founder of the New Albanian Brewing Company in New Albany, Indiana, who reminds you that beer is far too important to be left to Rate Advocate.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

What is DaveFest 2006? Here's your answer.

The time is fast approaching for DaveFest 2006, and understandably, many people are asking me: “Uh, exactly what is DaveFest 2006?”

Currently at Rich O’s and Sportstime, we stage three draft beer festivals during the course of the year. Gravity Head is devoted to high-octane “gravity” beers, Lupulin Land to lupulin-laden hoppy beers, Saturnalia to diverse and “festive” cold-weather seasonal beers in the period just before Christmas.

With DaveFest 2006, we inaugurate the first “consumer’s choice” draft beer festival, one that seeks to answer the question: “What would your ideal draft lineup look like?”

This fun idea arose from a conversation between loyal customer Dave Siltz and myself, and here are the rough guidelines (in Dave’s own words):

The rules are these:

Six taps will be provided for beers of my choosing, but I should specify at least ten beers so that alternates are available if any of my main selections cannot be procured.

I need to choose beers that Roger can actually get, so no Alaskan Amber and no Alaskan Smoked Porter or anything else that he can't get in a keg.

Some beers are always on anyway, like Guinness, so I needn't bother specifying them.

I immediately thought it would be a fine thing to try and do, perhaps even more so because Dave’s taste preferences run across the board and embrace stylistic territories that aren’t always represented in our yearly promotions, i.e., he’s neither a “gravity” nor a “hop” head.

My aim is to have all the ones that can be procured on tap at the same time on Friday, June 2.

Perhaps in the future, we might entertain submissions from other customers in a yet to be determined sweepstakes format, with the grand prize being his or her own draft beer festival. First, we’ll see how this one goes.

I wont hold my breath for a celiac fest. (at least not until they make a celiac beer or 6 that don't taste like camel piss).

Warning to my employer:I will DEFINITELY be falling off the celiac wagon for this festival. Prepare for a sleepy and swollen real estate nerd. There will be beer that needs drinking, and I would be a failed citizen should I not play my part. :P